Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00705)

While appreciating that Theos-talk is not formally affiliated to any 
existing theosophical organization, the negative and disruptive 
behaviour mentioned by HPB in the following passage from THE KEY TO 
THEOSOPHY (1889) may be worthwhile to ponder over in connection to a 
theosophical discussion list. After all, there may be a "troll" 
lurking inside everyone of us. (PO) 


ENQUIRER. What do you consider, then, to be the chief of these 
negative Theosophical duties? 

THEOSOPHIST. To be ever prepared to recognize and confess one's 
faults. To rather sin through exaggerated praise than through too 
little appreciation of one's neighbour's efforts. Never to backbite 
or slander another person. Always to say openly and direct to his 
face anything you have against him. Never to make yourself the echo 
of anything you may hear against another, nor harbour revenge against 
those who happen to injure you. 

ENQUIRER. But it is often dangerous to tell people the truth to their 
faces. Don't you think so? I know one of your members who was 
bitterly offended, left the Society, and became its greatest enemy, 
only because he was told some unpleasant truths to his face, and was 
blamed for them. 

THEOSOPHIST. Of such we have had many. No member, whether prominent 
or insignificant, has ever left us without becoming our bitter enemy.

ENQUIRER. How do you account for it? 

THEOSOPHIST. It is simply this. Having been, in most cases, intensely 
devoted to the Society at first, and having lavished upon it the most 
exaggerated praises, the only possible excuse such a backslider can 
make for his subsequent behaviour and past short-sightedness, is to 
pose as an innocent and deceived victim, thus casting the blame from 
his own shoulders on to those of the Society in general, and its 
leaders especially. Such persons remind one of the old fable about 
the man with a distorted face, who broke his looking-glass on the 
ground that it reflected his countenance crookedly. 

ENQUIRER. But what makes these people turn against the Society? 

THEOSOPHIST. Wounded vanity in some form or other, almost in every 
case. Generally, because their dicta and advice are not taken as 
final and authoritative; or else, because they are of those who would 
rather reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. Because, in short, they 
cannot bear to stand second to anybody in anything. So, for instance, 
one member -- a true "Sir Oracle" -- criticized, and almost defamed 
every member in the T. S. to outsiders as much as to Theosophists, 
under the pretext that they were all untheosophical, blaming them 
precisely for what he was himself doing all the time. Finally, he 
left the Society, giving as his reason a profound conviction that we 
were all (the Founders especially) -- FRAUDS! Another one, after 
intriguing in every possible way to be placed at the head of a large 
Section of the Society, finding that the members would not have him, 
turned against the Founders of the T. S., and became their bitterest 
enemy, denouncing one of them whenever he could, simply because the 
latter could not, and would not, force him upon the Members. This was 
simply a case of an outrageous wounded vanity. Still another wanted 
to, and virtually did, practise black-magic -- i.e., undue personal 
psychological influence on certain Fellows, while pretending devotion 
and every Theosophical virtue. When this was put a stop to, the 
Member broke with Theosophy, and now slanders and lies against the 
same hapless leaders in the most virulent manner, endeavouring to 
break up the society by blackening the reputation of those whom that 
worthy "Fellow" was unable to deceive. 

ENQUIRER. What would you do with such characters? 

THEOSOPHIST. Leave them to their Karma. Because one person does evil 
that is no reason for others to do so.